Restored 1959 Axeman 130
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Today I went over to Jan's place and drug home my 1959 Axeman 130 that was restored by Orbie Pepley. Here is the thread and the video about Orbie.
Axemans Restored By Korean War Vet
There is the boiler as it is now. Now for the interesting part.
We are going to swap out the current 1959 Axeman and put this one in its place. The first thing we did was strip everything off the boiler. Then flushed it out, it was very clean inside. Then pulled it off the truck and set it on a dolly.
I think we're ready! Then I stripped down the current Axeman. Its still full of water. Tomorrow we will drain it, disconnect the plumbing and the transfer head. Then we should be ready to do the swap!
-Don
Axemans Restored By Korean War Vet
There is the boiler as it is now. Now for the interesting part.
We are going to swap out the current 1959 Axeman and put this one in its place. The first thing we did was strip everything off the boiler. Then flushed it out, it was very clean inside. Then pulled it off the truck and set it on a dolly.
I think we're ready! Then I stripped down the current Axeman. Its still full of water. Tomorrow we will drain it, disconnect the plumbing and the transfer head. Then we should be ready to do the swap!
-Don
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Sorry, Yesterday was all boiler moving and getting the new boiler plumbed in.
Our objective yesterday was to get the original Axeman moved out, get the new one moved in, plumb it and pressure it up with water. Original boiler out... Cleaned up the landing pad... Then we ran into a 2 hour problem.
The 2" return port on the left side had some thread issues. I couldn't get my 2" thread chaser in it so I ended up using a 2" nipple and eventually got it straitened out.
I put double tape and double pipe sealer on that connection! Then we got it set in place. Plumbed in the return, supply and bypass. Installed the Tridicator, PRV and plugged the unused ports. Filled it to 22 PSI with water and left it over night.
Here is the video adventure!
This morning we have 20 PSI and a very small leak at the lower bypass union.
-Don
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
"I have 3 of these things now...I really only need 2"... .LOL
Keystoker people: "it makes heat"
EFM people: "It's a solid unit"
AA people: "I NEED MORE!!"
Keystoker people: "it makes heat"
EFM people: "It's a solid unit"
AA people: "I NEED MORE!!"
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Thanks guys!
The reason we needed to do the big push to get it plumbed yesterday was the cold that is coming tonight. With the boiler all plumbed in, I started pushing heat to it from the Van Wert in the basement this morning. This should keep the garage well above freezing. Over the next couple weeks I'll be putting all the mechanicals together and getting it ready to fire.
I have to remember to install and seal the cyclone separator cone! Some video action!
I started a new playlist for this project.
-Don
The reason we needed to do the big push to get it plumbed yesterday was the cold that is coming tonight. With the boiler all plumbed in, I started pushing heat to it from the Van Wert in the basement this morning. This should keep the garage well above freezing. Over the next couple weeks I'll be putting all the mechanicals together and getting it ready to fire.
I have to remember to install and seal the cyclone separator cone! Some video action!
I started a new playlist for this project.
-Don
- BunkerdCaddis
- Member
- Posts: 708
- Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
- Location: SW Lancaster County
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
- Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
- Other Heating: oil fired hydronic
Oh, ain't that the truth...Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Mon. Nov. 28, 2022 5:40 pm"I have 3 of these things now...I really only need 2"... .LOL
Keystoker people: "it makes heat"
EFM people: "It's a solid unit"
AA people: "I NEED MORE!!"
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
I'll pretend I didn't hear that...Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Mon. Nov. 28, 2022 5:40 pm"I have 3 of these things now...I really only need 2"... .LOL
Well it looks like I didn't get lucky with this leak. I had problems with this solder joint when I first installed it. I'll drain the water out and try to resolder it first. If that don't work I'll cut it out and solder a new piece in.
-Don
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
Looking forward to when you get to fire it! Hoping to have my axeman in for christmas! My sister told me it was 'supposed to be a cold winter', while the rest of the world would cheer at that news...I shed some small internal tears....
Don are you planning to modify the fan speed etc. with this one or must keep it 'near' stock? You may have mentioned it in the video, I didn't get through it all though.
Don are you planning to modify the fan speed etc. with this one or must keep it 'near' stock? You may have mentioned it in the video, I didn't get through it all though.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
It will run exactly like the other one. With the AHS insulated fan plate and the AHS style ashing it ran better than ever, so I don't see a reason to change it.Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Tue. Nov. 29, 2022 7:03 pmDon are you planning to modify the fan speed etc. with this one or must keep it 'near' stock?
If I could figure out a good way to insulate the boiler I would do that too. But I don't think I would love looking at it anymore.
-Don
- BunkerdCaddis
- Member
- Posts: 708
- Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
- Location: SW Lancaster County
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
- Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
- Other Heating: oil fired hydronic
That sir, is the tough love decision, to look at and enjoy the beauty or put a coat on her and reserve the heat for what it was intended for...